Syneresis negation apparatus

ABSTRACT

The present invention provides syneresis negation to capture the liquid separated from the gel so that only gel is dispensed from the container. The apparatus includes a reservoir, a hollow shell and a riser tube extending under the hollow shell. When the container holding the liquid separated from the gel is inverted for dispensing, the liquid rushes to the cap. The liquid flows over the hollow shell to the reservoir, which captures the liquid. The gel then covers the liquid and is forced up into the hollow shell and flows over the riser tube to be dispensed from the cap opening.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the benefit of co-pending application Ser. No. 61/982,928, filed Apr. 23, 2014, entitled SYNERESIS NEGATION APPARATUS.

FIELD

The present invention relates to an apparatus for control of syneresis and, more particularly, to an apparatus for use with a gel to control and contain a liquid which collects on the surface of the gel.

BACKGROUND

Syneresis is extraction, expulsion or weeping of a liquid from a gel, as when whey collects on the surface of yogurt. Sometimes this process is desired, such as for gel filtration. However, other times syneresis is undesired, such as for condiments such as ketchup or mustard. Ketchup and mustard are often dispensed from a plastic squeeze bottle. When the ketchup and mustard have set for a period of time, a liquid separates from the ketchup or mustard and forms on the surface. When the bottle is inverted for dispensing of the ketchup or mustard, the liquid is first dispensed, which wets a hamburger bun or hot dog bun with the liquid, for example.

Various ways to address the syneresis problem for condiments have been proposed, such as inverted containers that use the cap as the base such that the bottle is stored upside down. If the cap is not securely closed, the contents of the bottle may leak. Further, these bottles are often stored right side up, defeating the purpose of the inverted bottle.

SUMMARY

The present invention provides a syneresis negation apparatus that captures the liquid separated from the gel so that only gel is dispensed from the container. The apparatus includes a reservoir, a hollow shell and a rise tube extending under the shell. When the container holding the liquid separated from the gel is inverted for dispensing, the liquid rushes to the cap. The liquid flows over the shell to the reservoir, which captures the liquid. The gel then covers the liquid and is forced up into the hollow shell and flows over the riser tube to be dispensed from the cap opening.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic view of a prior art liquid dispensing container in an upright position;

FIG. 2 is the prior art container of FIG. 1 in an inverted position showing dispensing of liquid;

FIG. 3 is an embodiment of an inverted perspective view of a syneresis negation apparatus of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is another embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 5 is another embodiment of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 6 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 7 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 8 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 9 is a top view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 10 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 11 is a bottom view of the apparatus of FIG. 3;

FIG. 12 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 3 shown with a cap in a closed position;

FIG. 13 is a side view of the apparatus of FIG. 12 shown with the cap in an open position;

FIG. 14 is a right side view of the apparatus of FIG. 13;

FIG. 15 is a left side view of the apparatus of FIG. 13;

FIG. 16 is a diagrammatic sectional view of a liquid dispensing container in an upright position and a syneresis negation apparatus of the present invention; and

FIG. 17 is the container with the syneresis negation apparatus in an inverted position showing dispensing of gel and the liquid captured by a reservoir.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Referring initially to FIGS. 1 and 2, a prior art condiment bottle is generally indicated by reference numeral 20. Condiment bottle 20 includes a container 22 and cap 24. Container 22 holds a gel material 26, such as ketchup, and a liquid 28 that has separated from the gel through syneresis. The cap 24 has an opening 30 through which the gel 26 may be dispensed. As shown in FIG. 1, the liquid 28 is on top of the gel 26 in the container 22 when the bottle 20 is in an upright position.

When the bottle 20 is inverted as shown in FIG. 2, the liquid 28 flows to the cap 24 first. When the bottle 20 is squeezed to dispense the gel 26, the liquid 28 is first dispensed from the opening 30 in the cap 24.

As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which may be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. The drawings constitute a part of this specification and include exemplary embodiments of the present invention and illustrate various objects and features thereof.

Certain terminology may be used in the following description for convenience in reference only and will not be limiting. For example, the words “upwardly,” “downwardly,” “rightwardly,” “leftwardly,” “upper,” and “lower” may refer to an installed position (as shown in the drawings) of the item to which the reference is made. The words “inwardly” and “outwardly” may refer to directions toward and away from, respectively, the geometric center of the embodiment being described and designated parts thereof. Said terminology may include the words specifically mentioned, derivatives thereof and words of a similar import.

Referring to FIGS. 3-11, a syneresis negation apparatus of the present invention is generally indicated by reference numeral 40. Syneresis negation apparatus 40 includes a cap 42, which presents a reservoir 44 for holding a liquid when in an inverted position. The cap 42 includes treads 46 for engaging the mouth of a bottle. A riser tube 48 extends through the center and top 50 of the cap 42 presenting a nipple 52 and from the bottom side 54 of the cap. The riser tube 48 extends approximately one-half to one inch from the bottom side 54 of the cap 42. A dome 56 is secured to the end 58 of the riser tube 48 opposite the nipple 52 by ribs 60 or webbing, for example. The diameter of the dome 56 is larger than the diameter of the riser tube 48. The dome 56 is a hollow half-sphere. Although the illustrations depict a hollow hemispherical dome structure, other configurations, shapes and structures may be used. For example, a hollow tetrahedron, polyhedron, pyramid, semi ellipse, cone, frustoconical shape, cylinder, or any number of hallow shells or structures known to one of ordinary skill in the art may be used to cover the end 58 of the riser tube 48.

Referring to FIGS. 12-15, cap 42 may include a lid 62 connected to the cap 42 at a hinge 64 or other pivotal structure. The lid 62 may include a cylindrical, complementary mating cap 66 to cover and seal the nipple 52 in the closed position.

Referring to FIGS. 16 and 17, a sectional view of the syneresis negation apparatus 40 is illustrated secured to a container 68 holding a gel 70 and liquid 72. As shown in FIG. 16, the liquid 72 has separated from the gel 70 by syneresis. In the upright position the liquid 72 is lighter than the gel 70 and forms on top of the liquid 72.

When the container 68 is inverted, the liquid 72 flows to the top of the container to the cap 42. The liquid flows over the dome 56 and collects in the reservoir 44. The gel 70 flows over the dome 56 and into the reservoir 44 covering the liquid 72, flows under 74 the dome 56 and over 76 the end 58 and through 78 the riser tube 48 and out 80 through the nipple 52 to present the gel 70 without the separated liquid 72.

It is to be understood that while certain now preferred forms of this invention have been illustrated and described, it is not limited thereto except insofar as such limitations are included in the following claims. 

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed as new and desired to be secured by this patent is as follows:
 1. A syneresis negation apparatus for use with a bottle, said apparatus comprising: a cap for receiving a mouth of the bottle and presenting a reservoir, said cap having a top surface and an interior surface; a riser tube having a first end extending through said interior surface of said cap to said exterior surface of said cap, and a second end opposite said first end extending to an interior of the bottle; a hollow shell secured to said second end of said rise tube and covering said second end of said rise tube; whereas when the bottle is transitioned from an upright position to an inverted position for dispensing a gel from the bottle, liquid separated from said gel flows over said hollow covering and collects in said reservoir followed by said gel; whereas said gel flows up and under the hollow covering, over said second end of said rise tube and exits the bottle through said first end of said rise tube.
 2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lid hingedly secured to said cap and covering said first end of said rise tube.
 3. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cap is treaded.
 4. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rise tube is approximately one-half to one inch long.
 5. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said hollow covering is a geometric shape having an apex.
 6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein said second end of said rise tube is positions proximal said apex of said hollow covering.
 7. A syneresis negation apparatus for use with a bottle, said apparatus comprising: a cap for receiving a mouth of the bottle and presenting a reservoir, said cap having a top surface and an interior surface; a riser tube having a first end extending through said interior surface of said cap to said exterior surface of said cap, and a second end opposite said first end extending to an interior of the bottle; a hollow hemispherical dome secured to said second end of said rise tube; whereas said second end of said rise tube extends proximal an apex of said hollow hemispherical dome; whereas when the bottle is transitioned from an upright position to an inverted position for dispensing a gel from the bottle, liquid separated from said gel flows over said hollow hemispherical dome and collects in said reservoir followed by said gel; whereas said gel flows up and under the hollow hemispherical dome, over said second end of said rise tube and exits the bottle through said first end of said rise tube.
 8. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising a lid hingedly secured to said cap and covering said first end of said rise tube.
 9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said cap is treaded.
 10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein said rise tube is approximately one-half to one inch long. 